Belt-tightener



(No Model.)

J. PORTER.

BELT TIGHTBNER.

No. 252,969. Patented Jan. 31,1882.

J. Z,5f j

N. PETERS. Phum-Limogmphsr. w-hingum. D. C.

Ilairrnn JOSEPH PORTER, OF NE'V HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BELT-TIGHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 252,969, dated January 31, '1882.

Application filed December 19, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Josnrn PORTER, a citizenoftheUnitedStates,residingatNew Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Tighteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, andto the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a plan view of my invention, showing it applied to the ends of a belt; Fig. 2, an end view thereof with the belt in section. Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the blocks. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations, showing the reversible clamping-jaws in different positions.

The present invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in that fclass of devices for tightening machine-belts in which the ends thereof are held between clampingbars, by which, by a suitable screw rod or rods, one clamping-bar carrying the belt is made to approach theother,wherebythebeltisstretched or tightened.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of the belt-tighteners heretofore in use, whereby a more positive and direct strain is simultaneously produced upon both ends of the belt, and the eflicieney of the clamping mechanism between which the belt is held is materiallyinereased and more readilyadj usted to its varying thickness. This object l attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, A B represent blocks, four in number, connected together in pairs by rods'D, which pass lengthwise through holes in said blocks to admit of the latterbeingadj usted thereon, to adapt them to the varying widths of belts to be tightened or stretched, said blocks being held in position upon the rods by set-screws a, or any other means found most convenient. The blocks are cach formed with a jaw, b, to which are connected movable clamping-jaws E by a headed bolt, c, its lower end being screw-threaded to engage with a screw-threaded hole in the lower 5o jaw, b, the bolt passing through an elongated slot, d, in thejaw E, for the purpose as willbey (No model.)

hereinafterdescribed. Acoiledspring.e,passes around the bolt o, between the two jaws, and against which the ends bear. The under side or face of the jaw E has an offset, g, to adapt thus increasing the space between the jaws in Y proportion to the extent to which the bolt is unscrewed, thereby enabling the upper jaw to be better controlled and more readily adjusted when inserting or placing the belt C between them.

Each one of the blocks A is connected to its fellow block B by aright-and-left-screw-threaded rod, F, the ends of which pass through screwthreaded holes passing transversely through the blocks, the rod having near its middle a suitable nut, f, or other convenient means for turning the rod, to which a wrench or suitable tool may be connected.

It will be seen that by the employment of the right-and-left-screw-threaded rod F, when turned in the proper direction, both blocks A B upon each side of the belt C are brought in a direction toward each other, and thereby simultaneously stretching` the belt at both ends in an effective and expeditious manner, and without danger of in any manner injuring the belt.

The rods D, which connect the blocks together, preventtheja-ws from'twistingand cansing strain on the screw-threaded rods F, and it is preferable that the upper sides of the movablejaws E should be slightly rounded or conveX, so that when bearing against the under side ofthe bolt-heads itwill have suflicient metion on the are of a circle to adapt the under4 face of theja-w to varying inequalities of the belt.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a belt-tightener, the combination, with blejaws I) E, of the rods I) and right-and-leftthe lower jaw, b, of the upper jaw, E, conhanded screw-rods F, said rods passing;` through strueted substantially as shown and described, I 5 the blocks at right angles to eaoh other, and and for the purpose set forth. 5 constructed to operate substantially as and for In testimony that I claim the above I have the purpose set forth. hereunto subscribed my name in the presence 2. In a belt-tightener, the combination, with of two Witnesses. the right-and-Ieft-screw-threaded rods F and rods D, of the blocks A B, formed with jaws the blocks A B, carrying stationary and mova- 3. In a helt-tightoner, the combination, with Josnrn PORTER.

Io b, and carrying the adjustable and reversible Witnesses:

jaws E, having offset g, substantially as and GEORGE TERRY, for the purpose specified. l ALFRED S. HENN. 

